The New Prophecy

Chapter 12

“I, Bramblestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I comment them to you as warriors in their turn. Stormpaw, Tigerpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?”

            “I do.” Stormpaw and Tigerpaw replied in unison.

            “Then by the power of Starclan, I give you your warrior names. Stormpaw, Tigerpaw, from this moment you will be known as Stormstreak and Tigerfang. Starclan honors your loyalty and courage, and we welcome you as full warriors of Thunderclan.”  Bramblestar rested his muzzle on their heads and they licked his shoulder in respect.

            “Stormstreak, Tigerfang, Stormstreak, Tigerfang…” They listened as their clan mates cheered their new names. Ashbreeze and Manefur were the first to run over to them to celebrate them all becoming warriors.

            Dustpelt and Sandstorm stood in back until the other cats were gone before congratulating them, they had recently become elders although everyone else knew they could still hunt and fight easily if they had to. The new warriors took their places in the camp to guard for any intruders, they would stay silent and statue like until dawn when one of the other warriors would come and tell them they could move. The only reason not to was if someone or something was threatening the hollow. Breezepelt and the rest of his cats hadn’t attacked again but the patrol still smelled their scent and knew it was only a matter of time.

            There was a rustle in the thorn barrier and the four warriors tensed up and prepared to fight but the three cats that entered smelled like shadow clan and they didn’t act hostile.

            “Can you get Bramblestar?” A black and white tom asked.

            “Who are you?” Ashbreeze hissed.

            “Littlecloud, of Shadowclan. This is Rowanstar, our new leader and Darkheart.” The medicine cat replied.

            Tigerfang nodded to Manefur and he ran off to fetch Bramblestar. The leader came running across the clearing in silence until he reached their unexpected visitors.

            “What do you want?” He growled while glancing around for any other sign of intruders.

            “Blackstar died in an attack by Eclipseclan… he lost the rest of his lives. So now I’m leader.” Rowanstar explained. “But we came here on our way back to camp because Littlecloud wishes to speak with your medicine cats.”

            “Ashbreeze go wake them up.”

            He padded away and there was a grumbling sound from the den before Jayfeather came out followed by Leafpool and Ashbreeze. When Jayfeather caught the Shadowclan cat’s scent he tensed up but kept his claws sheathed.

            “Can we go to your den? I’ll leave Darkheart here.” Rowanstar mewed.

            “Fine, follow me.” Bramblestar cast Stormstreak and Darkheart cautious looks, knowing it was probably something to do with the prophecy, and led the two cats to his den along with his medicine cats.

            “So you have your warrior names too?” Darkheart asked once the others had left.

            “At sun-down. When did you get yours?” Manefur asked.

            “Sun-rise, but instead of doing this like my sister I was chosen to go to the moonpool.”

            “Lucky… but what happened to Blackstar, how did he lose his last lives?” Tigerfang asked.

            “Battle, those cowards Breezepelt calls a clan ganged up on him after Claw, the grayish tan one for future reference, ripped out his throat. Breezepelt and the others must have told him about leaders having nine lives.”

            “They killed Softpaw.” Ashbreeze spat. “I hope you gave those crowfood eaters some scars.”

            “Oh, don’t worry we did.” Darkheart twisted his head slightly. “Is it true those two kittypets that stayed here are dead? Guess they were too soft, all cats with kittypet blood are.”

            “Watch who you’re saying that to!” Stormstreak growled.

            “Oh that’s right you’re related to half-clans and kittypets aren’t you?”

            The other Shadowclan cats walked out of the den and motioned that it was time to leave. Darkheart purred in mockery before following them, casting the four cats an evil stare before disappearing through the thorn barrier.

            The next moonhigh Bramblestar led them to the gathering; Stormstreak sat by the Windclan cats and glared over at Darkheart’s pelt as he talked to Iceclaw. He looked up and gazed at her before strutting over followed by the other cat.

            “Well if it isn’t the Kittypetclan.” He purred.

            “That’s all your clan is filthy blood.” Icepclaw added.

            “Go eat crow food fish breath!” Galerunner hissed.

            “Oh look rabbit chaser’s defending a kittypet, their clans always were close.”

            The other cats went silent as the leaders stood up on their tree branches and the four cats hissed at each other once more before going quiet.

            Mistystar stepped forward and waited until the other cats were watching her. “Eclipseclan is getting out of hand! They have attacked our camp and killed Mallownose, Podfur, and Mosspelt. Other than that we have managed to hold them off but we know they are still planning how to attack.”

            “Windclan has also been under attack from Breezepelt.” Onestar announced as he took Mistystar’s place. “Crowfeather was killed in the attack and Graycloud has left to join Eclipseclan.”

            Rowanstar took his place at the end of the branch. “As you must know by now, Blackstar is dead; killed by a rogue known as claw. I have received my nine lives from Starclan and appointed Scorchfur as my deputy.”

            “Thunderclan was attacked several times since the last gathering and I lost my first life.” Bramblestar lied about the life, he had actually lost two, but he knew the other clans, as well as his own didn’t need to worry about that. “Since then there have not been any more attacks. I suggest all the clans start helping each other once again to stay ahead of this new threat otherwise we all might perish.”

            Muttering swept through the gathered cats as they heard what was happening and what Bramblestar had suggested. The leaders agreed to meet back here at the next fullmoon to tell them their answers.

            “None of them even mentioned us becoming warriors!” Darkheart spat as he followed the other Shadowclan cats off the island.

            They ran back to camp to find everything peaceful and the cats that had gone to the gathering raced to their dens to spread the news of what happened at the gathering. Stormstreak noticed somewhere still muttering about how no one was able to stop the attacks.

            “So what do you think we should do? Trust the other clans or stick to ourselves?” Tigerfang asked.

            “I don’t trust Shadowclan, the other clans might be good allies though.” She replied before curling up in her nest.

(Eclipseclan's symbol)